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The differences between release managers and quality assurance managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a release manager and a quality assurance manager. Additionally, a release manager has an average salary of $109,886, which is higher than the $99,894 average annual salary of a quality assurance manager.
The top three skills for a release manager include release management, project management and software development. The most important skills for a quality assurance manager are continuous improvement, product quality, and corrective action.
| Release Manager | Quality Assurance Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $109,886 | $99,894 |
| Hourly rate | $52.83 | $48.03 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 38,547 | 62,293 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A release manager is responsible for supervising project releases across various platforms by closely coordinating with technology and project teams, ensuring the stability and efficiency of outputs according to clients' specifications and business needs. Release managers handle the delivery management procedures from conceptualization to production, maintaining budget requirements and adherence to timetables. They also perform quality check processes to identify possible defects and inconsistencies with the deliverables and adjusting initial project plans as needed.
A Quality Assurance Manager's responsibility varies on the organization or industry where one is assigned. Most of the time, the duties will revolve around quality control, such as overseeing a company's manufacturing operations, ensuring that the process followed all of the necessary protocols, and the products met all of the standards in adherence to the company's policies and regulations. Furthermore, one must be able to detect and identify mistakes, conduct constant inspections, coordinate with various staff and supervisors, develop the workforce's quality by training employees, and come up with strategies that will help the company attain financial gains.
Release managers and quality assurance managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Release Manager | Quality Assurance Manager | |
| Average salary | $109,886 | $99,894 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $147,000 | Between $70,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a release manager and a quality assurance manager in terms of educational background:
| Release Manager | Quality Assurance Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between release managers' and quality assurance managers' demographics:
| Release Manager | Quality Assurance Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.4% Female, 38.6% | Male, 67.1% Female, 32.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |